Disposable gown with one-piece body and sleeves having elastic sleeve closure



Nov. 21, 1967 H. ZIMMON 3,353,189

DISPOSABLE GOWN WITH ONE-PIECE BODY AND SLEEVES HAVING ELASTIC SLEEVECLOSURE Filed June 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F I INVENTOR HAROLD Z/MMONNov. 21, 1967 H. ZlMMON 3,353,189

DISPOSABLE GOWN WITH ONE-PIECE BODY AND SLEEVES HAVING ELASTIC SLEEVECLOSURE Filed June 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE--5 INVENTOR.

HAROLD Z/MMON TTOKNE Y United States, Patent O M 3,353,189 DISPOSABLEGOWN W'ITH ONE-PIECE BODY AND SLEEVES HAVING ELASTIC SLEEVE CLOSUREHarold Zimmon, Redwood City, Calif. Zimmou & Company, Inc, 215 ONeillAve., Belmont, Calif. 94002 Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 461,961

6 Claims. (Cl. 2-114) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A disposable gown isprovided with a long sleeve having an elastic band secured to the lowerend by means of a loop external to the sleeve. The band is stretchedaround the end of the sleeve to tighten the same around the wrist.Contamination through the bottom of the sleeve is thus prevented.

This invention relates to a disposable gown of a type which may be usedfor many different purposes. A principal field of use is where theatmosphere is contaminating and it is desirable to protect the garmentsand arms of the wearer from contamination. Conversely the gown may beused to protect a clean atmosphere from contamination from the clothesof the wearer. Accordingly, the gown is provided having a one-piece bodyand long sleeves, each sleeve being provided with an elastic bandpermanently secured externally of the lower end thereof, the band beingof a length and resiliency so that it may be stretched back over the endof the sleeve to tightly encircle the lower end of the sleeve andtighten the same around the wrist. Such a gown finds utility incontagious areas of hospitals. Further, the gown may be used innurseries to prevent contamination which may exist on the clothes of thewearer from endangering infants. Industrial uses for the garment existwhere either the atmosphere is contaminated, or where it is essential toprotect the atmosphere from contamination which may be carried by theclothes of the wearer.

A principal advantage of the invention is the fact that the device isinexpensive to manufacture, both with respect to material and labor.Heretofore attempts to produce such garments have proven unsatisfactoryin competition with permanent, launderable products. The garmentshereinafter described have a one-piece body which is seamed to thesleeves in a manner which simplifies manufacture. Thus, the gown may beworn only once or a few times and the inexpensiveness of itsconstruction makes disposability preferable to laundry.

A feature of the invention is the fact that it is made of paper orunwove-n or woven fibre, or a combination thereof which is sufficientlystrong to enable the garment to be used one or more times withouttearing and, further, has an appearance which is sufiicientlypresentable so that the garment may be worn in a hospital, physiciansofi'ice, industrial or commercial installation without embarrassment.

Another feature of the invention is the fact that the material is suchthat it may be incinerated after disposal.

A particular feature of the invention is the simplicity of the sleeveclosure previosuly mentioned both from the standpoint of manufacture anduse. A rubber band, or similar elastic band, is used and is attached ata point near the lower end of the sleeve. A suitable means of attachmentis the use of a short loop of the same material of which the body isconstructed through which the band fits. Such loop may be seamed intothe longitudinal seam of the sleeve.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following sepcification and 3,353,189 Patented Nov. 21, 1967referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters ofreference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a front-opening gown. FIG. 2 is anexploded perspective view showing the front of the gown open.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the body of the gown isconstructed.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the Hank from which the sleeve is constructed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing how the elastic is usedto close the sleeve.

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of a modified rearopening gown.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the structure of FIG. 6 modified to showshort sleeves.

FIG. 8 is a plan of a blank for the body of the gown of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a plan of a blank for the sleeve thereof.

Both the front-opening garment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and therear-opening garment shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 are fabricated in such mannerthat the body is a single piece of material, such as paper or non-wovenfibre, or other inexpensive and preferably disposable substance. The useof a belt in connection with such body is optional. The sleeves are eachformed of either a single piece or two pieces of material as hereinafterexplained, and are seamed to the body in a raglan-type sleeve.

Blank 11 for the front opening gown of FIG. 1 has a bottom edge 12 whichis preferably straight and comprises the ultimate width of theback-panel B and front panels R, L. Blank 11 may be cut from a roll ofmaterial, edge 12 coinciding with one edge of the roll. Lower side edge13 on each side of the blank is disposed at an angle with respect toedge 12 of about and extends up to a point 14 about two-thirds of theoverall length of the garment and immediately opposite the underside ofthe arm opening. Above point 14, the upper side edge 16 curvesupwardly-inwardly at a much more abrupt slant than does edge 13, theangle between edge 16 and a vertical line being approximately 30. Edge16 terminates in a point 17. On the side of point 17 opposite edge 16the front sleeve defining edge 18 slants downwardlyinwardly at about thesame angle with respect to the vertical as does side 16 and terminatesin an arcuate upward curve 19 which defines the lower edge of the armopening. Above arcuate portion 19 the rear arm defining edge 21 slantsupwardly-inwardly at approximately the same angle as edge 18 andterminates in a horizontal or slightly downwardly curved back edge 22.The body of the garment may be approximately symmetrical with respect tothe vertical reference line 23. Belt opening slits 24 may be formed onone or both sides 24, 26, as indicated in FIG. 3, for half belts 27, 28,which are attached to the side edges 13 at the same elevation as slits24, 26. It will be understood that the use of such half belts isoptional.

The blank 31 for a sleeve is shown in FIG. 4 and may consist of a singlepiece of material or two parts 32, 33 seamed together at transverse seam34 in order to conserve material. The bottom edge 36 of the sleeve isstraight and the side edges slant upwardly-outwardly to provide fullnessfor the upper arm, terminating at points 38, 39. On the right-hand sideof the blank as shown in FIG. 4, the upper side edge 41 curvesupwardly-inwardly in approximately a parabolic curve terminating atpoint 42 and then extending in straight upward-inward edge 46. On theopposite side of the sleeve, commencing at point 39, the sleeve edge 47slants upwardly-inwardly and terminates at point 48, the same point atwhich edge 46 terminates. The sleeve is fabricated by seaming the sideedges 37 together in a longitudinal seam 51, as hereinafter explained.The point 48 is joined to the point 20 where edges 21, 22 of the bodymeet. Edge 46 extends between point 20 and point 17, which is attachedto point 44. Edge 41 is attached to edge 16 and edge 47 is attached toedge 21. Points 38, 39 coincide approximately at the bottom of curve 19.

Adjacent the bottom of seam 51, joining edges 37 of the sleeve, a shortloop 52 of material is attached into the seam, the material beingpreferably the same as that of which the blank of the sleeve isconstructed. An elastic or rubber band 53 fits through loop 52 and, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the band is not used to close the sleevehangs suspended by loop 52 externally. When the sleeve is closed toprevent contamination of the atmosphere or to prevent contaminatedatmosphere from atfecting the clothes of the wearer, the elastic band 53is stretched down over and around the hand '54 of the wearer and broughtup around the opposite side of the sleeve opposite seam 51, as shown inFIG. 5. When the band is allowed to contract it tightens around theoutside of bottom edge 36' of the sleeve, gathering the sleeve togetheraround the wrist.

FIGS. 6w 9, inclusive, show the construction of a rear opening garment.The blank 61 for the garment shown in FIG. 8 has a bottom edge 62,preferably straight and comprising the entire width of the front F, theleftrear panel L, and the right-rear panel R. Side edge 63 may bestraight (as shown) or may be slanted to provide an overlap when thegarment is worn. Each side 63 terminates in an upper point 64 andthereafter, the side 63 slants upwardly-inwardly at an angle ofapproximately 15 terminating in a point 67. The rear sleeve-opening edge68 curves downwardly, terminating at a lower point 69 at the bottom ofthe armhole opening. Beyond point 69 edge 71 slants upwardly-inwardlyterminating at point 72, which is lower than point 67 The frontneck-opening '73 is curved downwardly. As will be seen from FIG. 8,blank 61 may be symmetrical about medial vertical reference line 74.

A belt 76 may be attached at location 77 on the middle of the front Fand when the garment is worn, brought around and tied in a knot 78 atthe back. If desired, tapes 79 may be attached at the neck edge atcorners 64 for further attachment of the gown.

The sleeve blank 76 has a bottom edge 77, upwardlyoutwardly slantedsides 78, terminating at points 79, 81,

respectively. Side edge 82 curves upwardly-inwardly from I point 81,terminating at point 83, and then extending in a stretch 84 slantedupwardly-inwardly at a less abrupt angle terminating at medial point 86.From point. 86, the opposite edge 67 slants downwardly-outwardly to ajuncture with point 79. As shown in FIG. 9, the blank 76 may be of asingle piece or maybe an upper piece 88, a lower piece 89, seamedtogether at a transverse seam 91 to, conserve material.

In assembly of the sleeves on the body, the edges 78 are seamedtogetherin a longitudinal seam 92, points 79 and -81 coinciding and being joinedto point 69. Edge 87 is joined to edge 71, point 86 coinciding withpoint 72. Edge 84 becomes part of the neck-opening of the garmentconstituting a continuation of edge 73. Points 83 and 67 coincide, andedge 82 is joined to edge 68.

In FIG. 6, a sleeveclosure similar to'that shown in the modification ofFIGS. 1 to 5, illustrated, there being a loop 93 seamed into the seam 92adjacentat lower end and receiving a loop of the elastic band 94, whichis drawn over the hand and around the sleeve to close the sleeve off asshown in FIG. 6. In FIG. 7, short sleeves are shown, the portion 89 ofthe blank being omitted and line 91 coinciding roughly with the bottomedge of the sleeve.

What is claimed is: V a

1. A gown having a body and sleeves, an elastic band dimensioned to fitsnugly around the wrist of the wearer, and a short loop attached to saidsleeve and extending outside said sleeve adjacent the lower end of saidsleeve, said band passing transversely through said loop, said bandlocated externally of said sleeve.

2. A gown according to claim 1 in which said body and sleeves are madeof a disposable, paper-like material, said loop made of said material.

3. A gown according to claim 1 in which said body is made of a unitarybody blank and said sleeves are of raglan style, said body blank havinga bottom edge, upwardly extending side edges and an irregular top edge,

said top edge having a central neck edge, deep, curved arm opening edgesoutward to either side of said neck edge terminating in points at theupperextremity of said top edge.

, 4. A gown according to claim 3 in which said gown opens at the frontand the upper portions of said side' edges curve upward-inward to saidpoints, each said sleeve formed of a sleeve blank having an irregulartop edge having a central portion connected between one of said pointsand the adjacent end of said neck edge of said body blank, said sleeveblanks having curved edges to either side of said central portion, saidcurve-d edges seamed to said arm opening edges of said body blank.

5. A gown according to claim 3 in which said gown opens at the back andsaid body blank has short edges outward of'said points intersecting theupper ends of said side edges, said short edges comprising portions ofthe neck opening of the completed gown, each said. sleeve formed of asleeve blank having an irregular top edge having a central portionconnected between one of said points and the adjacent end of said neckedge of said body blank, said sleeve blanks having curved edges toeither side of said central portion, said curved edges seamed to saidarm opening edges of said body blank.

6. A gown having a body and sleeves, an elastic band dimensioned to fitsnugly around the wrist of the wearer,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,986,217 1/1935 Pilla 2125 X2,668,294 2/ 1954 Gilpin 2-114 2,701,364 -2/l955 Palm 2-l'14 2,846,6868/ 1958 Tames 2-1l4 JORDAN FRANKLIN,- Primary Examiner.

RICHARD J. SCANLAN, JR., Examiner.

1. A GOWN HAVING A BODY AND SLEEVES, AN ELASTIC BAND DIMENSIONED TO FITSNUGLY AROUND THE WRIST OF THE WEARER, AND A SHORT LOOP ATTACHED TO SAIDSLEEVE AND EXTENDING OUTSIDE SAID SLEEVE ADJACENT THE LOWER END OF SAIDSLEEVE, SAID BAND PASSING TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID LOOP, SAID BANDLOCATED EXTERNALLY OF SAID SLEEVE.